Fitting end at ECNL National Event in SD

Fitting end at ECNL National Event in SD
by J.R. Eskilson
April 15, 2014

 

SAN DIEGO – The ECNL National Event in San Diego came to a fitting conclusion on Monday under a bright blue sky. The three-day event showcased some of the top girls club soccer teams in the United States in front of hundreds of college coaches.

Monday’s finale featured a few teams looking to stay perfect and collect all nine points from the trip while other squads searched for some revenge after earlier defeats.

READ MORE: ECNL Standouts from final day in SD | Staying Perfect in San Diego | Standouts from ECNL SD: Day Two

PDA U17 3-1 So Cal Blues U17

Anika Rodriguez, So Cal Blues, girls club soccerAnika Rodriguez

U.S. U17 Women’s National Team midfielder Taylor Racioppi scored on two set pieces to lead PDA to a 3-1 win over fellow U17 WNT star Anika Rodriguez and So Cal Blues.

Racioppi notched the opening goal in the 11th minute when her free kick from just outside the 18-yard box went over the head of the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net. Paige Monaghan drew the free kick after she was tripped up well streaking toward the goal.

So Cal Blues answered back on the ensuing kick off as the play broke down for Nikki Rosen 25 yards from goal. The attacking midfielder unleashed a rocket that smashed off the inside of the post and into the net to put the squads back on level terms.

The two teams battled back and forth for the next 65 minutes without either giving up much in front of the goal.

PDA grabbed hold of the lead in the 77th minute when Racioppi converted her second free kick on the day. Montana Sutton was chopped down near the center of the field about 20 yards from goal. Racioppi expertly placed her shot into the bottom corner of the net after bending it over the wall.

Rodriguez nearly answered immediately for So Cal Blues when she hit a screamer on the bounce from 18 yards out. However, PDA goalkeeper Penelope Edmonds made a tremendous diving save to keep the shot out of the net.

With two minutes left in the game, Monaghan blew past the Blues defense and put the game out of reach with the final tally of the game. PDA caught Blues with numbers forward and the speedy striker had a clinical finish to seal the result.

Both PDA and So Cal Blues finished the event with 1-2 records.

PDA U16 1-0 Slammers U16

An early goal was just enough for PDA to escape the San Diego Polo Fields with an undefeated 1-0-2 record. The fortuitous early tally was the lone bright spot in a game that featured a frequent whistle and not much flowing play.

Neither team sustained a rhythm or showed much creativity in the attack on the day as much of the play turned into more direct soccer against tired legs and a warming sun.

PDA was the more opportunistic side in the first half and held Slammers inside their half of the field for much of the opening 40 minutes.

However, the tables turned in the second half and the Southern California squad dictated where the game would be played for the final 30 minutes of the contest. Slammers did see one effort smash into the back of the net in the 55th minute, but the assistant referee’s flag wiped that goal off the score sheet.

With two minutes left, Slammers defender Alyssa Rocha hit a free kick that crashed off the crossbar and stayed out of the goal. It was the last chance of the game for the girls in maroon in an otherwise drab affair.

Slammers finished the event with a 1-2 record and sit in 14th place in the champions league standings with just over a month left in the season. PDA moved into 13th place with the win.

Crossfire Premier U16 1-0 West Coast FC U16

Tia Beck’s goal late in the contest was enough for Crossfire to improve to 3-0 at the ECNL National Event in San Diego and hold onto the top spot in the champions league standings. Beck, the captain of the squad, scored off of a set piece in the dying moments to seal the win in a thrilling back-and-forth clash battle from the morning fixtures at the Polo Fields. 

Trending Videos
 
IMG Academy Top 150 Rankings
see full ranking:
Boys Girls